Myrick Marsh
Nature Trails Guide
River and Bluff
Bicentennial
Intracity Trails
R.A.B.B.I.T.
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Welcome to the Myrick Marsh Nature Trails
The area in which these trails are located is in the
southwest section of 600 acres of marshland found along
Lang Drive between north and south La Crosse. It is a portion
of the area which receives flood water from the
La Crosse and Mississippi Rivers. The trails described
are along existing roads that led to well sites, abandoned
in 1969, and the old roadbed of a rail line which ran
through the most diverse part of the marsh.
The trails offer a wealth of beauty and interest for
the artist and photographer as well as a place of
enjoyment
for all lovers of the out-of-doors. All year long adventure
is waiting. Large and small living things are found
in these habitats. Many have strange ways which keep
them hidden from most people. Keep your eyes and ears
open and watch your step. Noisy walkers see and hear
very little and frighten birds and other animals away.
As you follow the trails you can observe wide variations
in the marsh-type habitats. These in turn determine the
kinds of animals that live here.
The Rabbit Committee and Park Board welcome and
encourage the use of these trails. Orderly development
and maintenance of the natural features of the area require
both cooperation and discipline on the part of the
individuals and groups that visit here. This unique
area can be preserved so that all may enjoy its natural
beauty, if visitors observe a few simple rules.
1. Area is open daily from dawn to dusk only.
2. Visitors should remain on the paths. Walking through
the undergrowth will disturb and even injure wild
plants and animals.
3. Do not litter the trails. Smokers are urged to be
careful so that fires are not caused through carelessness.
Fires are not allowed in the area.
4. All are cautioned not to dig plants, cut or break
plants or trees or to deliberately disturb any
living thing in the area.
5. Dumping in any section is a violation of city
ordinances and is subject to a fine.
6. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails.
— 2—
Myrich Marsh Nature Trails
by
Laura A. Schuh
University of Wisconsin
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Illustrated by Malenna Smith
Copy right 1976, by Laura A. Schuh
All rights reserved including the right of
reproduction in whole or in part in any form
How to use the Trail Book
The trails are developed with guide stations as
designated on the map. The various trails are described
and the illustrations in the margins and throughout the
booklet will help to orient you to some features to be
observed. Additional scientific guides and field keys
would be necessary for those wishing to go into depth
regarding specific plants or animals. The hope is to
stimulate observation, therefore, there is a minimum of
labeling. Stop often as you move along the trails and
enjoy the area where you are. These easy walking trails
are designated according to their speciality, as:
Entrance Trail Stations A, B, C and D (pages 10-22)
East Trail Stations D to E (pages 23-25)
Trail to Crossroads Stations D, F, G, H, I (pages 26-30)
North Trail to the La Crosse River Stations J, K, L (pages
31-33)
La Crosse River Bank Trail East Stations L and M (pages
35-36)
West Trail West of J (pages 31)
Rose Hip Trail Stations J, N, 0 (page 36)
The Old Railroad Bed Trail South of 0 (pages 36-37)
dogbane Trail West of 0 (page 38)
Diagrams
Map of Trails - Diagram I - page 5
Leaves and Seeds of Common Trees - Diagram II - page 7
Common Galls - Diagram III -page 9
Common Land Birds - Diagram IV - page 22
Mammals and Their Tracks - Diagram V - page 25
Common Shore and Water Birds - Diagram VI - page 37
4
Diagram I
5
To Identify Trees
The shapes of the crowns of the many
kinds of trees found along the trail
will aid in identifying them.
elm maple cottonwood oak
Bark and branching are also useful in
tree identification. The hackberry
tree may be easily identified by its
warty bark and its slender zigzag
twigs. The bark of maple trees is
smooth.
Trees may also be identified by their
flowers and fruits. Winged fruits
called samaras are typical for elms,
maples and ashes. Acorns are the
fruit of oaks. Berries contain the
seeds of the hackberry. Willows and
cottonwood seeds have cottony
parachutes.
6
Leaves and Seeds of Common Trees
Cottonwood
catkin
Oak
acorn
Hackberry
berry
Willow
catkin
Maple
samara
Elm
samara
Black Locust
pods
Ash
samara
Diagram II
Some Signs to Look for Insects Are:
Holes in leaves (1)
Caterpillars, pupae and adult moths
and butterflies.
Tiny holes in bark where adult
insect emerge.
Evidence of bark beetle damage from
engravings in wood. (2)
Webs on leaves.
Ant hills.
Tracings on leaves caused by the leaf
miners, insects which tunnel between
the leaf layers. (3)
Discolored leaves.
Odd growths on stems and leaves,
called galls, house developing
insects. (Plate III)
8
Common Galls
Willow Cabbage Gall
Pine Cone Willow Gall
Oak Apple
Hackberry Nipple Gall
Pouch Gall
Goldenrod Ball Gall
Cottonwood Stem Gall
Woody Twig Gall
Diagram III
9
Entrance
At the beginning of the trail, elm and
hackberry trees will be found on the
left and willows on the right. At this
point (A) on the right of the trail are
both grape vines (4) and Virginia creeper
or Five-leaved Ivy (5). The fruit of the
Virginia creeper is easily distinguished
from the grape by the little red stalks
on which the berries hang.
Proceed down the path and observe the
stinging nettles (6) which can cause
severe itching if handled.
There is an abundance of marsh grasses
along all the trails.
10
Look to the right across the
cattails (7), bulrushes,
arrowheads (8) and other tall
marsh plants, to observe the
bluffs.
The giant ragweed (9), common
ragweed (10), and lamb's
quarters (11), very common here
will also be found all along
the trail.
11
On the right side is a large elderberry
bush (12) which has clusters of
flat-topped, whitish, sweet smelling
flowers in summer. The deep blue
berries in fall are valuable wildlife food.
Drainage Ditch and Bridge (C)
Note the gray-green or yellow-green
plants growing on the bark of the
trees in this area. These plants have
no stems, roots, leaves or flowers.
They are actually two plants, an
alga and a fungus living together.
One cannot live without the other.
We owe our present day soil to the
pioneering action of these plants
called lichens (13). Lichens cannot
grow in polluted areas, hence they
can be used as indicator plants. The
area below the bridge is sometimes
without water, but in the spring this
12
area floods. Many plants which need
a good supply of water are found in
the area.
The buttonbushes(14) growing on the
banks on either side of the north
end of the bridge have lollypop-like
seeds, which attract many wintering
birds.
Many things that live in the water
are too small to be seen without the
aid of a microscope. However, if you
make careful observations, you will
see many signs of living things.
Duckweed (15), the small flowering
plant with leaves up to 4 mm across,
is well adapted to aquatic life. It
usually floats, but will root and
thrive on the bank if the water level
drops.
13
Water striders (16), called "Jesus
bugs”, have long legs and literally
skate at great speeds over the surface
of the water. They have hairs on
their feet which prevent them
from breaking the surface tension of the
water.
Shiny, black, oval whirligig beetles
(17) are often seen swimming in
circles on the surface of the water.
They are part of the marsh clean-up
crew since they eat small dead organisms,
especially insects.
Giant water bugs (18), or electric
light bugs, some of which may be 25 mm
long, can swim in water but are often
attracted to electric lights at night.
14
Many tiny creatures cling to water
plants and creep over stones. Some
that look like insects without wings
are the nymphs (19) or young of such
insects as dragonflies (20) and damselflies
(21). When they become adults,
they get their wings, fly away, and
are among the most evident summertime
insects of the marsh. While streaking
over the water on transparent wings
they scoop up their food which is
mainly flies and mosquitoes.
Dragonflies are stronger fliers and
larger than damselflies. They hold
their wings outstretched when at rest,
while damselflies hold their wings
together over their backs when resting.
15
Crayfish (22) burrow under stones
and are also members of the clean-up
crew. During the early spring the
waters are filled with thousands of
tiny short-lived relatives of the
crayfish, the fairy shrimp (23).
These hatch, mature, mate, and lay
eggs which can withstand extremes of
temperature and die all within a few
weeks. Fairy shrimp are important
in the diet of small fish and other
water dwelling creatures.
Snails (24) of various kinds crawl
along the edge and bottom of marsh
waters. They help to keep the water
clean by eating algae.
16
frog
salamander
eggs
Frogs, toads and salamanders are
amphibians and lay their eggs in
water. Look for jelly-like clusters
of frogs' eggs in the spring. The
tadpoles which hatch from these eggs
when not eaten by predators such as
fish, live for about a year before
becoming frogs. On warm spring days
the loud singing of frogs can be
heard. Many adult amphibians are
found in leaf litter since they feed
on insects hiding there.
In the summer the sounds of cicadas,
crickets, grasshoppers, and katydids
replace the loud songs of the frogs
of early spring.
Fish, tadpoles and water nymphs have
gills to take oxygen from the water.
Air breathing creatures live in the
water with the aid of air bubbles or
have air sacs inside their bodies.
17
The snakes and turtles are scaly
reptiles and many living in the marsh
spend some time in the water. The
harmless garter snake (25) marked by
two or three yellow stripes frequents
the water’s edge when hungry to hunt
for frogs, toads or earthworms.
The painted turtle (26) is the most
common turtle found in the marsh and
may often be seen sunning itself. It
can be distinguished by a broad,
dark, flattened shell which has
bright yellow and red markings
around its smooth edge.
Turtles are part of nature's clean-
up crew since they are scavengers.
18
The honeysuckle or twin-sister (27)
shrub found everywhere in the area
can be identified by twin pink or
white flowers in the spring and twin
yellow to red berries in the summer
and fall. These berries are a
favorite food of birds.
The showy yellow to orange sunflower
(28) blossoms 25 - 125 mm across are
abundant in the fall.
The common milkweed (29) and dogbane
(30) found all along the trails are
closely related plants. They both
have sticky, milky sap. The milkweed
has pretty pink blossoms and fat
seed pods and the dogbane has white
flowers and bean shaped seed pods.
19
A long horned orange beetle with
black dots (31) is common on milkweed
and a blue-green irridescent, oval
beetle is common on dogbane.
The Monarch or milkweed butterfly
(32) returns to this area in June.
The yellow, black and white caterpillar
(33), found on milkweed or
dogbane, eats day and night. The
adult Monarch has a slow, sailing
flight.
The Viceroy (34) which mimics the
Monarch alternates a fast beating
and flapping of its wings with glides
during which time it holds its wings
horizontally. The Viceroy cater-
pillar feeds on willows and poplars
at night, hence seldom seen.
20
The caterpillar of a small yellow
and white spotted black moth feeds
on grape leaves. A small, somewhat
orange, poor flying skipper has a
caterpillar which feeds on grasses,
and the adult commonly flies close
to the ground among the tall grasses.
The wooly bear (35) hibernates in
the winter, spins its cocoon when the
warm spring weather arrives and
emerges a moth (36).
The common white or cabbage, (37)
and yellow butterflies termed "puddle
butterflies" are common.
As you continue on the trail, note
increased bird activity. The noisy
red-winged blackbird is present in
a great number during spring and
summer.
21
Common Land Birds
Tree Swallow
Flicker
Mourning Dove
Red-winged Blackbird
Cardinal
Robin
Bluejay
Oriole
Diagram IV
22
The East Trail Lookout
Walking to the right at (D) you
will be facing the bluffs. Plantain
(38) is as common as dandelions but
lacks showy blossoms.
In the spring the Wisconsin State
Flower, the blue violet (39) is
everywhere.
In summer the pretty purple spiderwort
(40) is common.
The large silver maple tree on the
left halfway down this trail is a
favorite nesting tree for orioles.
A common plant without flowers or
seeds is the horsetail (41). A
slough grass having leaves with
very sharp edges is found in this
area, so stay on the trail to avoid
being cut.
23
As you approach the point (E), an old
well site, look in the trees for
evidence of upstairs apartments.
Woodpeckers, owls, and racoons make
their homes in hollow trees.
Orioles, robins, cardinals and
mourning doves build their homes
among tree branches. The red-winged
blackbird nests among the tall
grasses.
Flying squirrels are often seen at
dusk gliding from tree to tree.
Look for squirrel's nests which
appear as large round collections
of leaves in the fork of a tree high
above the ground. Young are born
in late winter and late summer. The
female cares for them for about a
month.
Mammals and their Tracks
Opossum
Squirrel
muskrat
Rabbit
Racoon
Woodchuck
Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel
Skunk
Diagram V
25
Retrace your steps to (D) and look to
the right. In the deep open waters
in this area, ducks, racoons and muskrats
are often seen. The muskrat
looks like a big furry brown rat with
a flat scaly tail.
Observe the large female boxelder
tree (42). The paired winged seeds
indicate that it is a member of the
maple family.
As you continue down the path a dense
growth of trees, shrubs and briars
will be found on the right. This is
a good area for tree and shrub identification
since there are many varieties.
A tree key would work well here.
Observe the shrub-like mulberry trees
with many different shaped leaves.
26
Note the differences in the bark of
these trees. Pick up a handful of
leaves and determine the trees from
which they come. Note the opposite
branching of the ashes and maples.
In areas the grapevines have taken
over control. What will eventually
happen to the trees and shrubs?
Should the vines be cut out or does
the food and protection provided for
the wild life make up for their damage
to the trees? At (F) there are large
cottonwood trees and an open area.
Some animals like the muskrat (43) are
excellent swimmers and live near cattails,
their favorite food. Look to
the left for their dome-shaped houses
made of grass, leaves, bulrushes and
cattails.
Proceed along the trail and looking
to the right, you will observe many
dead and dying trees. Many will be
27
removed because they are diseased elm
trees, but others will be recycled
by nature. Some will show evidence
of feeding and nesting holes.
Many plants identified earlier will
be found along this trail. The white
and yellow sweet clovers (44) with
sweet smelling blossoms are abundant.
Continue along the path to the very
large cottonwood tree at the right.
Pick up some small branches found
around the base of the cottonwood
tree (45). Find the place on the
twig where the growth started in successive
years by looking for thickened
bark rings around the branch. The distance
between these rings indicate the
amount of growth in a year. How old
is the branch you picked up? How old
do you think the tree is? Note how
the cottonwood is trying to repair the
damage to the trunk caused
28
by careless use of fire. In June
the wind blows the cottony seeds of
cottonwood and willow far and wide.
There are horsetails and goldenrods
in the area to the right. Many goldenrod
stems have ball-like swellings
in which a larval fly lives. This
swelling is one of the most common
galls.
Continue on the trail to (H). On the
left there are decaying logs. Many
are covered with small green plants
without flowers or seeds, the mosses
(46). Note also that many of the
decaying trees have fungal growths.
Puffballs (47), mushrooms (48) and
shelf fungi (49) are common representatives
of these non-green plants.
Bacteria, fungi, worms and insects
decompose leaves and fallen logs to
form humus, thereby enriching the soil.
29
Just before the crossroads on the right
(T) there will be an excellent opportunity
to observe and compare many vines
such as the Virginia Creeper or 5-leaved
ivy, and Poison Ivy (50). These are
often confused. The white Poison Ivy
berries are eaten by many birds, but
especially bluebirds.
The Crossroads
Note the whitish or powdered appearance
of the underside of the raspberry (51)
leaves. This characteristic separates
raspberry bushes from blackberry
bushes. The raspberry briars provide
excellent cover for many small animals.
This is good rabbit habitat. Rabbits
may have up to five litters a year.
A cupshaped nest is dug and lined
with fur from the mother's body.
30
At this intersection note several large
oaks. Oak leaves with sharp points (52)
are most commonly red or black. Those
with smooth rounded margins (53) belong
to the White Oak group. Which are
these? What becomes of surplus acorns?
West Trail
The trail to the La Crosse River turns
right here, but if you continue walking
straight ahead, you will come to another
of the old well sites. Typical plants
found in this area are roses (54),
Goatsbeard or Noon-flower (55), Mullein
(56) and Blue Vervain (57)
31
Trail to La Crosse River
Turning right at (J) follow the trail
to the La Crosse River. Some of the
summer and fall plants all along this
trail are the wood nettles (58), roses
(59), white snake root (60) and
raspberries.
To the right of (K) note the Red Ozier
Dogwood with its distinguishing red
bark in the fall. This shrub has
showy flowers in May and bears red
fruit in late summer.
Two common mints are the upright plant
motherwort (61) and the creeping ivy,
Creeping Charlie (62). Creeping
Charlie is easily identified by its
rather hairy heartshaped, scalloped
leaves and pretty small purplish
flowers.
32
The Sumac (63) on the left provides
beautiful red colors in the autumn
and is the favorite food of rabbits.
It has a cluster of red berries.
The Jewel Weed or Impatiens (64) grows
here in abundance. In late summer it
has orange and yellow flowers. The seed
pods open at the slightest touch and
scatter seeds far and wide, hence this
flower is nick-named 'Touch-Me-Not'.
Looking toward the area of Red Cloud
Park across the La Crosse River observe
the undercutting of the root systems
on the opposite bank (65). What will
eventually happen to these plants?
Note also the castings of the earthworms
on the soil around (L).
33
There is a distinct change in
habitat on the short trail to
the left of (L).
Succession
34
La Crosse River Bank Trail East
In the spring time many willows along
the east river bank will produce
specialized catkins or flowers called
"pussies" (67). Note the many types of
willow galls. The Hog Peanut Vine (68)
with little pink blossoms or pea-like
seed pods is very abundant. (M) Each
leaf has three leaflets like the poison
ivy but the margins of the hog peanut
leaflets are smooth in contrast to the
toothed edges of the poison ivy leaf.
An interesting plant which is several
meters tall and has a yellow-headed
flower in fall grows along this trail.
The stem is square and about 25 mm
across. The leaves actually form
little cups with the stem, hence its
name, Cup Plant (69).
35
The trail does not circle back, so
eventually retrace your steps to
(J) at the crossroads. If you continue
in the southerly direction
along the Rose-hip Trail, Solomon's
Seal (70) and False Solomon Seal
(71) can be observed at the left.
The greenish bell-shaped flowers
along the stem of the Solomon Seal
ripen into bluish berries in the
fall. The small, white, star-like
flowers at the tip of the False
Solomon Seal stem ripen into reddish
berries. In summer and fall the
rose plants (N) are covered with
their reddish apple-like fruit,
the Rose Hips (72). Many plants
and animals identified earlier are
found along this part of the trail.
The Old Railroad Bed Trail (0)
This trail to the left is narrower
than the main trails and meanders
to the south for about 2000 meters.
It is generally a beautiful and
shady trail. It leads to a dead
end area at a pond and provides
an excellent place to observe water
birds and other animals.
36
Common Shore and Water Birds
Great Blue Heron
Black Tern
Mallard
White Egret
Rail
Coot
Blue-winged Teal
Bittern
Diagram VI
37
Dogbane Trail
To take this trail directly from
the Rose Hip Trail continue
walking on the main path instead
of turning left at 0.
The most obvious plant found along
this part of the trail is the dogbane.
At the end of the trail is
an open area, another of the old
well sites. This trail does not
connect with another trail, so retrace
your steps to a starting
point.
Why would late fall and winter be
the best time to discover many
animal homes?
38
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